CANBERRA author Stephanie Owen Reeder has won the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, it was announced today at the 70th Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year Awards.

Dr Reeder’s winning book, by NLA Publishing, was “Lennie The Legend: Solo to Sydney by Pony,” which tells the story of a farmer’s nine-year-old son’s  1000km  horseback ride to Sydney for the opening of the Harbour Bridge during the Depression. No stranger to awards, in 2012 she won the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize for “Amazing Grace”.

Local authors Carlie Walker and Robyn Siers also won an ‘honour prize’ in the same category for “Ancestry: Stories of Multicultural Anzacs”, published by the  Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The Council announced the 2016 Awards ahead of the commencement of Children’s Book Week from August 20-26. With over 400 books entered for this year’s awards, the judges have had the difficult task of choosing just one winner and two honour book recipients in each of the five award categories.

Winner in the first category, Book of the Year: Older Readers was Fiona Wood’s  “Cloudwish”, published by  Pan Macmillan Australia, while the winner in the section Book of the Year: Younger Readers, was Morris Gleitzman for “Soon,”  published by  Penguin Random House.

Book of the Year: Early Childhood went to  Anna Walker for “Mr Huff,” published by  Penguin Random House and Picture Book of the Year went to Armin Greder (text by Nadia Wheatley) for “Flight Windy,” published by  Hollow Books.

Professor Margot Hillel, Chair of the CBCA National Board described Australian children’s literature as “world class,” adding, “Having access to quality literature is so important for children, from early childhood books which are crucial in developing early literacy, through to YA books helping older readers tackle contemporary problems.”

Following the awards announcement, Children’s Book Week begins with activities in libraries, schools and communities across the country. This year’s theme is ‘Australia! Story Country’ and will see children’s book character parades taking place in schools and librarians creating displays  to celebrate the Australian children’s book industry.

Children’s Book Week, August 20-26. Further info at cbca.org.au